You can’t help but notice him at a pickleball tournament. He’s the one wearing the loud Hawaiian shirt and managing the event, interacting with players at check-in or at the operations desk. Sometimes he’s accepting scorecards or handing them out.
He’s the one with half a left arm.
The one who is a 4.5 player.
Mike Hoxie is the founder and president of Pickleball Is Great, also known as PIG. His company has been managing tournaments for 10 years, allowing locals to be freed from dealing with the time consuming, sometimes complicated setup process, scheduling, brackets, matchups, court locations and everything else that goes into running a tournament.
“I wanted to create opportunities for players of all backgrounds and abilities to compete, connect and grow in a friendly and inclusive environment,” Mike, 55, tells me from his home in Phoenix. “We love this sport and try to simplify everything. We like to start early, end early, and get as many players as possible to happy hour.”
Mike may have half an arm but looks at life as the glass being half full. He has never thought that being born with no left arm below the elbow is a handicap. He in fact has a sense of humor about it, including when he hands out medals at tournaments.
“Most players always remember me as I have a one-handed method different from every other tournament director,” Mike says.
So far this year Pickleball Is Great has run 135 tournaments in 25 states plus Japan, Tahiti and Mexico. Mike says players typically pay $20 to be in a Pickleball Is Great tournament, it could be more or less depending on the size and scope of each tournament, and whether the client wants PIG to include the cost of medals, T-shirts and other merch.
Mike was born and raised in Hawaii. He says the spirit of aloha-living with love, kindness, compassion and mutual respect shaped much of his character and outlook. His father was a manager at Amfac, which was a major land development, retail and sugar company. His mother worked for the Census Bureau part-time. He says his parents encouraged him to pursue all his interests.
“I remember around age three becoming aware that my left arm was different,” Mike says. “My earliest thoughts weren’t of limitation. Rather, I was more curious than anything. Shriners Hospital assisted with making my prosthetic arm. I used a hook until high school and then got upgraded to a hand. For the most part, I felt like every other kid.”
He says most kids were “pretty accepting, though there were a few occasions of name calling. Some were curious and asked direct questions, while most just accepted me as I was. I was fortunate to have friends and teammates in soccer and tennis, I was a kicker for my high school football team, which included me and focused more on my personality than my physical differences.
“I was energetic, adventurous, and never wanted to sit still. Whether I was fishing, riding bikes, or playing soccer or tennis, I was always up for a challenge and eager to prove to myself-and sometimes others-that I could do anything I set my mind to.”
After high school Mike attended Cal Poly, majoring in Agribusiness administration. He managed a Blockbuster Video store (Google it, kids) for a few years. Then he moved to Portland, OR, and worked for the next 25 years with many technology companies.
After years of wearing the prosthetic arm, he started living without it.
“I realized I felt more comfortable and more myself without one, “Mike says, “I do still wear my prosthesis for meetings, weddings, and funerals to blend in better. I find it most helpful while traveling, as trying to handle two checked bags and two carry-ons [can be difficult]. The only drawback are the metal detectors.”
Mike discovered pickleball in 2009 when he had free time after the CompUSA store in Portland that he managed was closed.
“I realized quickly that pickleball was a sport where creativity and adaptability could shine,” Mike says. “The welcoming community instantly drew me in.”
People at the courts occasionally express surprise when they see a one-armed player, especially one who has a 4.5 DUPR.
“They ask if I really have more arms, like an octopus. I try to use those moments as opportunities for education, showing that ability comes in many forms and that the game is open to all,” Mike says.
He got good by facing better players who were 20-plus years younger. He had practice sessions in the Pacific Northwest with Pickleball Hall of Fame members Steve Paranto, Enrique Ruiz and Wes Gabrielsen.
“I enjoyed watching the top players and the sideline commentary on what strategy to take,” Mike says. “Patience and placement were more important than overpowering the ball. Most importantly, I never let any perceived limitations define my potential.”
Mike is like that on the court and in business. His wants to continue to expand Pickleball Is Great and is training others in his company to become tournament directors. If you want to hire Pickleball Is Great to run your tournament, Mike says just reach out through the website, pickleballisgreat.com.
Mike’s last name is pronounced, “Hoke-see.” It would be more fitting if it rhymed with a word which is defined as, “having energy, courage, and determination.”
Moxie.
Thoughts of the week, not all pickleball
· I don’t like the NFL playing games in foreign countries while season ticket holders lose a home game, or broadcasting games exclusively on streaming services. Both trends started a few years ago and will increase because the greedy owners and commissioner want them to. They say it’s about making the NFL an international sport, like pro basketball. I say it’s all about money. But I still watch the games, so many are compelling.
· Like I still watch college football despite the NIL (issue and players who rarely attend one college all four years. These days it’s common for players, especially the better ones, to attend three or four colleges. It’s all about money, playing time and trying to get drafted.
· Let’s just say Patriots’ quarterback Drake Maye made what you might call a poor decision when he threw a pass into double coverage vs. Seattle in the NFL opener. The Pats were in position to win or at worst tie the game before the pick with 21 seconds left.
· Speaking of choke jobs, Ohio State got tight around the collar in Austin, giving up 21 points to Texas in the 4th quarter and losing by 1. Credit to Longhorns QB Arch Manning for hanging in after a bad start and getting his first signature win in college.
· If you like baseball you have to love pennant races. Every season about six teams are fighting for the final Wild Card spot, including this year. The Mets aren’t among them but I’m still into it.
· I sustained a rotator cuff impingement six weeks ago when I went up for an overhead and just returned to playing. I’m working with a physical therapist, using resistance bands daily, taking CBD oil, using a heating pad, an ice pack, a massage gun, getting massages and using several creams and sprays (those last two being band-aids but do relieve pain temporarily). I just started stem wave therapy and it seems to help. The pain is about 80% gone now. I returned to playing last week but think that my days of playing six times a week are over. Bummer.
· My crankiness due to not playing a week ago Sunday was eased somewhat by watching the Jets and Giants win and the perpertually overrated Cowboys lose (to the Giants no less). Coach Jerry might need a new coach if Dallas again fails to make the playoffs. In the past 11 seasons the Cowboys have reached the playoffs five times. “America’s Team?” That ship sailed long ago.
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